9 Halloween Family Traditions To Try this Year

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. What’s not to love about candy, costumes, parties, and spooky chills? We have a few family traditions we do every Halloween to help celebrate the season and create some fun anticipation. However, I’ve heard of a few more traditions from friends that I would love to adopt. You certainly don’t have to do all of these, but pick one and plan some additional fun for your family this Halloween season.

1. Get in the Mood – Watch the Classics.“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Need I say more? Watch it on ABC TV or rent it. If your kids are a little older, try another classic, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” I love Jack Skellington and we like to light the fireplace and curl up on the couch together to watch this spooky tale.

2. Show Your Spirit. One of my favorite parts about trick or treating is seeing how everyone spooks out their house. I love the creativity. Whether you prefer fall elegant to grotesque to friendly ghosts and monsters, let’s see your Halloween spirit and get the whole family involved in decorating this year. The family can work together on decorations.

3. Read Bedtime Stories. We love to read Halloween stories in anticipation of the big day. Some families have a tradition of reading Halloween stories by candle light. I love it! We’re going to read by the flickering flames tonight. Check out my list of 10 Best Halloween Books for Kids to start reading. Older kids might like reading chapters of Goosebumps or Bunnicula books.

4. Boo Your Neighbors. This fun Halloween tradition is growing in popularity so be the first to start it in your neighborhood as a way to connect. To start, make up a Halloween goodie bag for a friend or neighbor. Ring their doorbell then leave the goodie bag at their house with a poem and sign telling them they have been “Boo’d.” Kids love to ring and run! The neighbor is supposed to reciprocate and “Boo” someone else on your block. Read this post for additional Halloween Boo instructions, ideas for the goodie bags, and links to download free printable Boo poems and “We’ve Been Boo’d” signs.

5. Family Halloween Costumes. I always envied families that created a theme for their Halloween costumes each year. We’ve only been able to do it once. My kids have very strong ideas about what they want to be each year for trick or treat. However, one year my husband was a Mad Scientist, I was Igor, my son was Frankenstein, and my daughter was a spooky, black lab cat. It was a blast to have us all trick or treat together in matching costumes. If you can convince everyone in your family to go with a theme, it’s a lot of fun and makes for great family photos. Check out these 15 Family Themed Halloween Costume Ideas for inspiration.

6. Bake Halloween treats. There is nothing like Halloween to inspire some creativity in the kitchen. Check out these Halloween cupcakes and Spooky Scary Cheesecake recipes that are easy for kids. They’ll be a hit at any Halloween party.

7. Pumpkin Carving Party – Invite friends and family over to carve pumpkins. Pick a theme, provide the cutting tools and decorating material, and of course, Halloween-themed snacks. Here are some party ideas to get planning.

9. Pumpkin Fairy – Don’t want your kids to consume all of their Halloween candy in one night? Schedule a visit from the Pumpkin Fairy who trades fun toys and trinkets for your kids’ candy stash. Here’s what you need to know about the Pumpkin Fairy Tradition.

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